Conveyer



Nov- 4, 1941 J. B. BRENNEN CONVEYER Filed Jan. 17, 1940 Patented Nov. 4, 1941 DY AT QQONY John B. Brennan, Atlanta, .Ga; ,v 1940, Serial No; 314,339 (01.19 79) u v dofiing mechanism for Application January 17,

f '1 Claims. .Generically this invention relates "to, cotton feed-hoppers and conveyers for conveying the cotton-therefrom but it is, more especially di ,rectedto an endless belt type of conveyer."

I Conveyers of this general type heretofore in 7 use n the nature of elevating aprons or conbut obviates the ation of sparks in contact with chinery.

One of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of a cotton elevating conveyer comprising detachable teeth elements and means for locking the teeth inoperative position, the construction of said teeth and locking means fire hazard incident to the creby the broken portions coming the moving parts of the mabeing such as to withstand the stresses incidentto the cotton elevating operation without breakage of or damage to the teeth.

An important object ofthis invention is the provision of an endless metallic elevating belt or apron, non-stretchable in character and adapted to eliminate the fire hazard present in types heretofore in use, the construction of the moval of said teeth and adapted to co-operate with the dofiing or cleaning devices to deliver a uniform distribution of the cotton from the conveyer.

more even distribution conveyer.- f r o Y .H V I With. these .and other objects in viewy which of the: cotton 5 from characters of. reference indicate like :parts, throughout the severallfigures, of which; 7 p I Fig. lisasectional view somewhat diagrarm matic through a cotton hopperishowing the Fig.-2 is a fragmentary elevation of the con,- veyer.. :s, Fig.13isfa section -Fig. 4 is. a section on theline4-Q-4 of Fig, 2.

Fig. 5 is'a perspective view of oneof the spacer elements; Fig.6 is a view In I the illustrated embodiment this invention there is shown a ho to contain a bulkof cotton to bef of one of the teeth. r I

point adjacent its upper-portion 2 for cleaning and other purposes by cotton machinery .(not shewn J Mounted in-hopper I is..a zontal rollers 3.and mounted on said rollers and adaptedto 7 travel in the. direction of the arrow is an endless platform conveyer 4 having mount;

ed on its; outer surface suitable teeth or pins 5, and'suitably journaled in hopper Iadjacent end-6 is shaft 1 on which is mounted and suit-' Suitably journaledin ably secured .a: roller 8-. said hopper I adjacent the top thereof parallel to shaft] is shaft'9having mounted thereon roller II'I. Suitably mounted *on'rollers fi and 9 adjacent their respective ends are sprocket wheels (notgshown) adapted to drive the sprocket or link chains B constructed of sprocket links I I' formed at one end with a cylindrical bar I2 and at the other with is adapted tobe inserted the'bar portion IZo'f an adjacent link II. Each side portion I4 of the respective links I I is formed with' a lateral per; forated ear I5 for a purpose directly appearing.

Adapted to bridge said chainsB and with their ends supported by and connected to diametrically opposite links 'II are a plurality of channel supporting members bers It has itsilongitudinal edges bent upwardly and inwardly forming picker teeth retaining means: I1 andforming said channel member-into on the linef3-3 of Fig; 2

characterizing pair of spaced hori; l

a strap loop Iain-which I6. Each of said channelmem is transversely spective ahorizontal or fiat end portion member andthe retaining edges formed with downwardly and outwardly side 1 portions 2| extending at an angle corresponding to the inclined retaining walls ll of channel member l6, said spacers adapted to be slidably engaged in the respective channel members IS in end to end relation, contiguous spacers engaging opposite sides of a picker tooth member C to support said teeth against longitudinal movement wit respect to said channel member. Each'of said picker teeth. C is formed with albody portion 22 having an elongated base 23, the opposite edges 24 and 25 extending upwardly therefrom in meeting direction, said body portion terminating at its upper end in a substantially sharpened picker portion 26; said portion 26 extending substantially at right angles to the edge 25 and is adapted when the bodyportion 22 insertedin channel member IE to project longitudinally .of the conveyer and in its direction of travel.

Said body portion 22 adjacent its base 23 is formed to substantially... correspond to channel member 16 and adaptedwhen positioned between the meeting spacers tov be supported in spaced relation against movement longitudinally of the channel member IS, the teeth of the respective channe1 members 15 being aligned. Adapted to be mounted in each end of the rechannel members I6 is an end spacer member 20 conforming at one end tothe configuration of the intermediate channel members l9 and at the other end having the top portion lBa inclined downwardly as at 21, and terminating in 28 adapted to engagethe bottom of channel IE to which it is secured. by bolt 29 extending through ear l of one. ofthe linksll, the opposite ear,l5 being secured tothe adjacent spacer l9 by bolt 30 ,extending through said spacer and block 3 l mount ed therein so as toprevent collapse of said spacer whenvboltlfi is tightened as will be well understood. Itwill thus bevseen thatby this construction at each end the series of spacer elements Ilsupport and lock said teeth 0 against longitudinal movement with respect to each channel I! forming-the dovetail configuration l8 co-a'cts with the complementally formed body portion 22 of teeth 0 to support and .lock them against movement transverse of' saidchannel members and longitudinal of the conveyer A, as will be "apparent.

It will be observed that each end of the respective channel members is mounted on a link H, and the inter-connectionofsaid' links form the chains B and at the sametimethe continuous conveyer A supported thereby, said, conveyer presenting transverse rows of picker series of spacer elements 16in end to end relation, the picker teeth also being in longitudinal alignment with respect to the conveyer.

Suitably mounted in'the hopper adjacent the delivery end of conveyer A is a dofiing mechanism D formed with annular series of teeth 32, said doffing device adapted to rotate in the direction of the arrow andtoremove the surplus cottonfrom the conveyer forreturn to the hopper. Mounted on the'opposite sideof the conveyer is a stripper mechanism E having annular series of teeth 33 and adapted to rapidly rotate in the direction of the arrow to strip the cotton from the teeth C for delivery from the hopper and distribution to the further cotton treating mechanism (not shown).

With further reference to the arrangement and configuration of the picker teeth or fingers C, it will be noted that the spike-like teeth extending at right angles from the conveyer in the structures heretofore in use, for instance, as shown in the patent to Graves, No. 633,995, issued October 3, 1899, and Davis, No. 1,812,287, issued June 30, 1931, present certain disadvantages, and that the dofiing mechanism in removing the surplus therefrom also frequently removes the entire quantity'of cotton 34, as shown in Fig. 3, from the tooth, which shouldbe carried up to the stripping mechanism E, and to overcome such deficiency and to effect astronger tooth structure against breakage and distortion and to effect a better grabbing of and separation of the cotton from the bulk duringthe elevating travel of the conveyer, applicant designed the tooth structure 0 and mounting therefor (Fig. 3) by providing a truncated-like thin bodyvportion 22, and formed at its upper end with the picker end 26 extending from the body'portion at substantially right angles to the forwardedge 25, and when engaged on opposite sides by the ends of the bracer elements IS a strong, rigid unitary mounting and tooth structure is effected. The forward edge 25 forms a stop for the cotton gathered on said tooth and not only prevents the cotton as it is being picked from being forced to the base of the tooth but substantially carries the cotton spaced from said base and prevents the possibility of stripping of the teeth by the dofiing mechanism and renders the cotton more easily stripped by the stripper mechanism, as will be apparent without further discussion.

While the operation of the device would seem to be clear from the above description it might be well to further state that initially the cotton is fed to the hopper and delivered by the platform conveyer to the elevating conveyer A, the picker points 26 of the teeth C penetrating the bulk in a substantially straight line, and the arcuate movementof said'points separate quantities of cotton therefrom which is initially supported on shoulders 25- andwhen said cotton reaches the doffing mechanism D the surplus is removed and returnedto the mass and the quantity remaining on the points 26 is carried to the stripper mechanism E where it is stripped therefrom for delivery from the hopper, as will be well understood.

It is apparent that I have designed an endless conveyer and tooth structure for the conveying of cotton, the teeth and mounting therefor adapted to withstand the strains and stresses incident to continued operation, such construction rendering it easy to assemble the components and install the device, which is simple in construction, manufacturable at a reasonable cost and efficient for the purposes intended.

While throughout the specification and claims the words cotton, cotton cleaner, cotton handling machine, etc., have been referred to, it is to be understood that such terms wherever appearing are intended to likewise embrace wool and other fibers.

Although in practice I have found that the form of my invention illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment, is the insertion therein, spacer elements complemenmost eflicient and practical; yet realizing the tally formed with respect to said channel supconditions concurrent with the adoption of my ports adapted to support said teeth, means for invention will necessarily vary, I desire to emlocking said spacer elements against movement phasize that various minor changes in details of 5 longitudinal of said supports, whereby said teeth construction, proportion and arrangement of are locked against movement longitudinally and parts, may be resorted to within the scope of the transversely of said conveyer. appended claims without departing from or 6. In acotton handling machine, the combinasacrificing any of the principles of this invention. tion with a feed hopper and dofling and stripping Having thus described my invention, what I mechanisms at its upper end, of an endless conconnected transverse teeth supporting members, plementally formed and engageable in said chanbetween said teeth, means for locking the end interposed between said spacer members, the free teeth are braced both longitudinally and transspect to the body portions. versely of said conveyer. 7. In a cotton handling machine the combina- 2. A device of the character described comtion with a hopper, of a conveyer operatively prising an endless conveyer consisting of a plumounted in the hopper, said conveyer comprising rality of transverse predeterminedly formed a plurality of transverse supports hingedly and channel supports, means for detachably and detachably connected and having teeth retaining hingedly connecting said channel supports, means, a series of picker teeth carried by each spondingly formed with respect to said channel base portion extending transversely of its support longitudinally and transversely of said conveyer ports to support the teeth against movement 3. A device of the character described comtransversely of the conveyer. prising an endless conveyer consisting of a plu- 8. A device of the character described includrality of interconnected channel members having 40 ing an endless conveyer comprising a plurality of a dovetail configuration in cross section, a pluinter-connected dovetail channel supports arrality of spacer elements complementally formed ranged in parallellism, a plurality of complemenand engageable in said channel members, a plutally formed spacer elements adapted for slidable rahty of picker teeth complementally formed at engagement in said channels in end to end relaone end for insertion in said channel members 5 on, a plurality of picker teeth each having a and extending transversely thereof and longibase portion corresponding in configuration to tudinally of said conveyer and interposed besaid channels and supportingly engageable 4. In a cotton handling machine, the comment longitudinally and transversely of said supbination with a feed hopper and dofing and stripports. ping mechanisms at its upper end, of an endless 9. A device of the character described comprisconveyer co-operating at one end with said ing an endless conveyer consisting of a plurality mechanisms and comprising hingedly connected of channel supports, spacer elements arranged in transverse teeth supporting members, said transsaid supports, a series of parallelly arranged verse members having complemental teeth repicker teeth rows, each of said rows including taming means along their longitudinal edges, spacer elements in end to end relation a tooth complementally formed spacer elements engagebeing disposed between each of said elements, the

able in said retaining means interposed between configuration of the spacer elements and the base said teeth, means for locking the end spacer of the respective teeth conforming to that of said members to said supports, whereby said teeth are channel supports, the picker teeth of the respecbraced both longitudinally and transversely of tive rows being aligned. said conveyen 10. A device of the character described com 5. In a cotton handling machine, the comprising an endless conveyer including transverse bination with a feed hopper and dofiing and supports formed with teeth retaining means stripping mechanisms at its upper end, of an along their longitudinal edges, non-yielding teeth endless conveyer cooperating at its upper end complementally formed for individual detachable with said mechanisms and comprising a pluengagement with said supports and retaining ral y of transverse p d n dly ormed means, and means to lock the respective teeth in channel supports, means for detachably conspaced relation and prevent movement thereof necting said channel supports, picker teeth havlaterally of said conveyer.

ing their base portions correspondingly formed with respect to said channel supports adapted for JOHN BRENNEN 

